Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and The Carter Center co-hosted their fifth annual elections conference, “25 Years After Bush v. Gore: Contested Elections Then and Now,” at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the landmark Bush v. Gore Supreme Court decision, the 2025 convening examined the state of contested elections in the United States — then and now — through a series of timely, solutions-oriented discussions.
Building on the Baker-Carter partnership and the legacy of the 2005 bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform, this year’s program draws from recent joint publications — “The Carter Baker Commission: 16 Years Later” (2021) and “Guiding Principles for Election Administration” (2024). These reports anchor two major conference sessions: one assessing the implementation challenges of the Guiding Principles, and another unpacking the evolving legal and political implications of redistricting in a polarized electoral landscape.
The opening panel explored actionable strategies for safeguarding the integrity of U.S. elections, featuring insights from leading policy experts from the Bipartisan Policy Center, Issue One, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, and the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics. Over lunch, key legal voices — including Ben Ginsberg, a central figure in the Bush v. Gore litigation — revisited the historic 2000 dispute, tracing its influence on public trust in election outcomes. The afternoon session took a closer look at how recent redistricting decisions are reshaping electoral competition and representation heading into 2026.
As confidence in democratic institutions faces mounting threats, this conference offered a critical forum for reflection, debate, and the advancement of bipartisan solutions to strengthen electoral credibility in the years ahead.
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Agenda
| 9:30 am | Breakfast |
| 10:15 am | Opening RemarksDavid M. Satterfield Chris Hobbs |
| 10:30 am | Introductory RemarksJohn Williams |
| 10:45 am | Session I — Obstacles and Opportunities to Achieving the Guiding Principles for Election AdministrationSession I revisits the Guiding Principles for Election Administration, a joint publication from The Baker Institute and The Carter Center, and examines its continued relevance in the wake of the 2024 election. As elections remain a flashpoint for political division, panelists will explore how the principles can serve as a roadmap for restoring trust and functionality in the electoral process. The session will tackle mounting challenges faced by local election officials — from restrictive state mandates to shrinking budgets — and assess how these pressures are undermining core democratic goals. What policy reforms are most urgently needed? And how can federal, state, and local actors better support fair, secure, and efficient elections in an era of growing volatility? Moderated by: Moderator: Michael McNulty, Policy Director, Issue One Tammy Patrick Adam Hinds Kim Wyman |
| 11:45 am | Break |
| 12:15 pm | Lunchtime Discussion — 25 Years After Bush v. GoreOne of the most pivotal legal figures from the landmark 2000 Supreme Court case Bush v. Gore will join our lunchtime program for a rare and timely conversation. Twenty-five years after the case that effectively decided a presidential election, Ben Ginsberg will reflect on its legacy and discuss how the landscape of contested elections has evolved. With firsthand insights from the courtroom that shaped modern election law, this conversation promises a compelling look at where we've been — and where our democracy may be headed next. Moderated by: David M. Satterfield, Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy; Former ambassador to Lebanon and Turkey Benjamin Ginsberg |
| 1:00 pm | Break |
| 1:15 pm | Session II — Recent Developments & Implications of RedistrictingSession II will examine the shifting landscape of redistricting, with a focus on recent developments, successes, and legal challenges in Texas and other pivotal states. Panelists will analyze how new mid-decade redistricting legislation is reshaping — and in some cases testing — existing redistricting laws, and consider the broader implications for electoral fairness, representation and the Voting Rights Act. The discussion will also look ahead to how these trends may influence future election cycles, with a particular focus on the 2026 midterm elections. Moderated by: Mark Jones, Ph.D., Fellow, Political Science, Baker Institute Kyle Kondik Caroline Vakil |
| 2:15 pm | Closing RemarksDavid M. Satterfield |
| 2:30 pm | Reception |
